Two years after launching Conviction Partners, an AI-focused investment firm, Sarah Guo has brought on a key addition: Mike Vernal, former Sequoia Capital partner. The expansion comes as Conviction secures a second fund with $230 million in capital commitments, more than doubling its initial $101 million fund.
Guo, who left Greylock in mid-2022 to start Conviction, had signaled early on that she planned to grow the firm with additional general partners. Over the past two years, she has built Conviction into a significant AI-focused investment force, backing companies such as Mistral, Harvey, and Sierra. Her presence in the AI sector has been bolstered by her popular AI podcast, “No Priors,” co-hosted with investor Elad Gil.
Vernal, who spent nearly seven years at Sequoia and previously led Facebook’s product and engineering teams for eight years, brings a strong investment track record. He has been instrumental in deals for high-growth companies like Notion, Rippling, and Verkada, the latter reportedly raising funds at a $4.5 billion valuation. His addition further solidifies Conviction’s position as a premier AI investment firm, reinforcing its role in shaping the future of AI-driven innovation.
